Sportshorts for Monday, Feb. 24, 2014

Erie’s Courtney Cobert is one of 50 honorable mention picks for the IHSA All-State Academic team that was announced Friday by the IHSA.

Every IHSA member school was invited to nominate one female student and one male student by the February deadline. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on 4.0 scale after their 7th semester, have participated in at least two IHSA sponsored sports or activities during each of the last 2 years and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.

Cobert plays basketball, volleyball and runs track.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Ross stuffs the stats in Cougars win

Matt Ross scored five of his seven points in the final 2 minutes, each time bumping Chicago State out from a one-point lead, and Rahjan Muhammad added three free throws in the final 13 seconds as the Cougars fended off Cal State Bakersfield 73-68 on Saturday.

Ross, a Dixon graduate and former Sauk Valley men’s basketball player, added seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks for Chicago State (11-15, 6-6 Western Athletic Conference).

NBA

Without James, Heat still beat Bulls

With LeBron James watching from the bench in a suit and tie, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade powered the Heat to a 93-79 victory over the Bulls on Sunday in Miami.

History? Pressure? Jason Collins would have none of it after becoming the NBA’s first active openly gay player.

Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier Sunday and played in the first half against the Lakers, grabbing a rebound and committing a couple of fouls. The 35-year-old center revealed at the end of last season he is gay, but he was a free agent and had remained unsigned.

NFL

League might penalize slur usage

The NFL competition committee has been discussing a possible new rule that would penalize players and teams for the on-field use of racial slurs.

The rule would penalize a team 15 yards when a player is heard using the N-word and eject a player for a second such offense.

GOLF

Day wins wild Match Play Championship

MARANA, Ariz. – Jason Day won the Match Play Championship on Sunday by surviving the amazing par saves of Victor Dubuisson.

The most riveting event in its 16-year history ended on the 23rd hole at Dove Mountain when Day rolled in a routine birdie putt from 4 feet on the 15th hole. It was his first World Golf Championship.

Dubuisson hit out of a cactus behind the first green, up the thick grass and onto the green to stay in the match on the 19th hole. On the 20th hole, he smashed wedge through a desert bush to get to his ball and watched it roll to 7 feet for another par.